Former Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has officially reversed his retirement from Test and T20I cricket, expressing a strong desire to make a final appearance for the national team across all three formats. The revelation was made during an episode of the Beard Before Wicket podcast featuring England all-rounder Moeen Ali, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Shakib, who announced his retirement from Tests and T20Is last year, clarified that he is “not retired from any format” and intends to finish his career on home soil.
“I am officially not retired from all formats. My plan is to go back to Bangladesh, play one full series of ODI, Test, and T20, and retire,” Shakib said.
“I can retire in any order—T20I, ODI, Test, or the other way around. I just want to play one whole series and retire.”
The star all-rounder has been away from Bangladesh since May 2024, following political unrest and the fall of the Awami League government. Shakib, a former Member of Parliament from the party, was named in an FIR related to an alleged murder case, though he was not in the country at the time. Despite off-field challenges, he continued to feature in international cricket, with his last appearance coming in the second Test against India in Kanpur.
When asked about returning to Bangladesh, Shakib expressed cautious optimism.
“I am hopeful. That’s why I’m playing T20 leagues. I think it will happen.”
The 37-year-old emphasised that his goal is to bid farewell to fans with dignity, regardless of performance, by playing a final home series.
“It doesn’t matter if I play well or not. I think this is enough. It’s just a nicer way to say goodbye to the fans and give something back by playing a home series.”
If his plan materialises, Shakib could feature in one last all-format series before drawing the curtain on one of Bangladesh’s greatest cricket careers.
